Rs 20 Lakh Collected: 407 Violators Fined By BWSSB For Misusing Drinking Water In Bengaluru

Amidst an ongoing water crisis in Karnataka's capital, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), a governmental agency, has taken strict action against violators in the city, fining 407 people and collecting over ₹20 lakh in fines.

Officials from the BWSSB have been cracking down on residents using potable water for activities like washing vehicles and gardening, as reported by The Times of India. "We have fined 407 persons till April 9 and collected ₹20.3 lakh from the violators so far," said a BWSSB officer.

Residents have been alerting the board about the misuse of drinking water, leading to the apprehension of numerous violators in the past month. "The BWSSB doesn't collect fines just because it sees someone cleaning vehicles. We cross-check by asking about the source of the water. If they fail to prove it is treated water, we collect a fine," explained a senior BWSSB official.

Out of the 407 cases, 90 per cent were related to using potable water for cleaning vehicles, while the remaining 10 per cent were for gardening. The agency has warned violators that a repeat offense would result in an additional ₹500 fine on top of the original ₹5,000 penalty.

To conserve water, the BWSSB has prohibited the use of drinking water for activities such as filling swimming pools, washing cars, gardening, construction, and maintenance.